1st adventure ? - Brighton, Gosport, Cowes, Lymington, Brighton. Advice please

[Newman]

Evening all,

Looks like we will finally be getting out in the boat for a proper little journey in the next couple of weeks or so. Being a newbie I have only managed to get down to the marina for the odd 'play around' in and around the marina since we bought the boat.

Having done my Competent Crew and Dayskipper last year (in the Solent area) I intend planning our little trip properly, albeit a short one in the eyes of most of you I'm sure. Got to start somewhere though.

Being our first trip out I am thinking of going from Brighton to Gosport, across to East Cowes Marina, Lymington (with PERHAPS calling in to Yarmouth en route). Then make our way back to Gosport and to Brighton.

The intention is to stay just one night in each marina, weather permitting of course. Not a problem though as we are both OAP's and if we have to stay on a bit longer it just means a few more pub meals, pints ............

As usual I am seeking all the valuable advice you people out there so willingly offer.

I have copied and pasted all the recent comments on 'Visiting Cowes' and will study them in detail re East Cowes Marina. Most useful.

Thanks once again in advance

 

[pappaecho]

None of the places too difficult. Dont attempt during Cowes week as marinas fully booked.
When you approach the Solent from the east, bear in mind that you need to look at the chart, as the world war 2 anti submarine traps are still there, so you need to understand which Forts to avoid.

 

[dt4134]

There's another thread running about passage planning from Southsea to Brighton so you might be able to pick up a bit from that.

Once in the Solent you can change your itinerary quite readily and go to the next harbour along.

Allow for maybe some bad weather on the way and maybe losing a day. Especially keep an eye on the weather forecast and whether it might affect your trip back.

You could break the journey at Littlehampton.

 

[CPD]

Sounds like a fun trip you are planning - have sailed round there quite a bit and as others have said - its pretty straight forward. The only thing I would say is make sure you are comfortable before commiting to rounding Selsey Bill. Littlehampton is of course a choice but get the tides absolutely right - the tide runs in/out very fast !!!! Good luck !!!!

 

[kesh]

i did almost this trip last week.

just time the tides right on the brighton to solent/solent to brighton legs.

 

[alant]

Evening all,

Looks like we will finally be getting out in the boat for a proper little journey in the next couple of weeks or so. Being a newbie I have only managed to get down to the marina for the odd 'play around' in and around the marina since we bought the boat.

Having done my Competent Crew and Dayskipper last year (in the Solent area) I intend planning our little trip properly, albeit a short one in the eyes of most of you I'm sure. Got to start somewhere though.

Being our first trip out I am thinking of going from Brighton to Gosport, across to East Cowes Marina, Lymington (with PERHAPS calling in to Yarmouth en route). Then make our way back to Gosport and to Brighton.

The intention is to stay just one night in each marina, weather permitting of course. Not a problem though as we are both OAP's and if we have to stay on a bit longer it just means a few more pub meals, pints ............

As usual I am seeking all the valuable advice you people out there so willingly offer.

I have copied and pasted all the recent comments on 'Visiting Cowes' and will study them in detail re East Cowes Marina. Most useful.

Thanks once again in advance

A back up plan, if the wind/tides favour it, could be to go down the bottom of the IoW & in via the Needles, to make it interesting. You can the visit all the places on your itinerary in reverse order.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

A back up plan, if the wind/tides favour it, could be to go down the bottom of the IoW & in via the Needles, to make it interesting. You can the visit all the places on your itinerary in reverse order.

For your initial longer voyage I'd tend to give this a miss. It's a trip I've made several times with experienced crew in good sea boats, both in the day but more often as a night sail.
You only need a bit of dirty water, say.. around St. Cats and it can be a very unpleasant trip in the wrong boat if inexperienced.
As already said, take note of the chart when approaching the forts, go with the tide and look for the entrance through the submarine defences, or go round through the main channel to avoid any difficulty getting through, considering wind and tide may not be in your favour when you get close.
Brighton to Gosport with a westerly blowing may be a real slog and that is where you pay for having a mooring to the east as many of the day sails are west.
If conditions favour, you may find it easier to go to Honfleur first! http://www.carte-postale.com/postcards/honfleur_eng/
good luck,
S.

 

[Kwik Decision]

Have you considered going into Chichester (or Langston) on your way to the Solent? Chichester is very plesant, has a premier marina (which is the same company that runs Brighton, so you my get free nights / discounts) and likely to be less busy than many of the "proper" Solent ports, particularly over Cowes week. Down side is that you need to get the tides right. Also bear in mind everywhere will be busy during the school holiday period!

Cheers

 

[mattnj]

Brighton to Gosport is a fair way for what sounds like a first trip...we did Brighton > Cowes recently and it was 8hrs 15mins....make sure you are prepared for such a long "first" trip.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Brighton to Gosport is a fair way for what sounds like a first trip...we did Brighton > Cowes recently and it was 8hrs 15mins....make sure you are prepared for such a long "first" trip.

Yes a doddle in a reasonable boat able to cruise an average of 5+knots, but in a slower boat make sure you start early, a couple of hours before the tide turns and with a favourable wind you should be fine.
If you are going with a spring tide you will have the advantage of more water going with you, but if the wind is SW you could be 'pinching' too close to the wind and also faced with wind over tide.
If conditions are not right don't hesitate to have an alternative.
It's all good fun but a major rule i reckon is to never set exact targets that you HAVE to make. Just one considered possibility after another is best.
I did Brighton to Cowes in a Bav 32 in a day easily with a South wind, but give some thought to going into other ports.
Consider Bembridge if your on a rising tide with enough depth, or if during neaps as it can be a pleasant place to stop. Even if you dont go into Bembridge and a SW wind is a bit hairy, you could drop your hook in the shelter off St Helens, just to the north of bembridge and sleep there the night.

 

[Iliade]

If the wind is favourable try to take the Looe Channel. If too close to the nose go around the outside of the Owers. Likewise if you miss the tide, as it can run at 7kt in the Looe, which is great when it is in your favour...

You do not wish to be butting the tide entering Gosport, and the Portsmouth area can be a little daunting with all the heavy metal bobbing about. I would second the idea of Chichester as a first port of call if you are delayed at all, as it is a good eight miles nearer (1h30-2h sailing.)

 

[Newman]

Sincere thanks

As usual, many sincere thanks to everyone for all the response re our intended little 1st adventure.

Much appreciated I can assure you

 

[Mulge]

"You do not wish to be butting the tide entering Gosport, and the Portsmouth area can be a little daunting with all the heavy metal bobbing about."

In my experience the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour is not too much of a challenge against an ebb tide. You might be racing through the water whilst making only one or two knots over the ground but the entrance channel is really very short and quite wide enough for a Cross Channel ferry and any number of small craft. Just keep to the west side of the channel from No 4 bouy and if you are heading up to Campers or Royal Clarence keep close to the Ballast Pile (in the entrance to Haslar Creek on your port side when you enter). Monitor Channel 11 for the Queens Harbour Master and if you are there at the weekend you'll probably benefit from the close attention of QHM's harbour patrols if you look as though you might do something wrong. Once inside its a pretty big stretch of water. Keep out of the dock area on the Portsmouth side, otherwise you'll get the attention of the MoD police

If you fancy being nearer the cinema and outlet stores at Gunwharf Quay you need QHM's permission to cross the harbour to the Marina, but the Gosport side has more berths and the Gosport Ferry will deliver you to the Portsmouth side in a couple of minutes.

Port Solent has lots of facilities on site, but is remote from anywhere else, suffers from motorway noise and is at the end of a long and winding channel. It seems to be easy to misread the marks (or at least a friend seemed to do it each time we ventured out).

If you fancy something quieter, Wicormarine on Fareham Lake usually has moorings available for overnight stays, but you need a tender to get ashore, and when you are, you need transport to get anywhere.

Having said all of that, Chichester Harbour is a wonderful place and worth a visit in its own right.

I did the Brighton to Gosport leg as the final part of a delivery trip to bring my boat from Holland to Wicor last month and on a calm day I used the Looe Channel. The only concern I had was the number of lobster pot markers west of Selsey Bill. They are more in number than on the east side and very few have flags on them.

 

[stuartwineberg]

A Couple More Thoughts

Just been down to Yarmouth which is lovely if you haven't been there. The new walkashore pontoons cost me £23 and if I read the list correctly, if I had been willng to use my dinghy to go from the non-walkashore pontoon it would have been £9 - quite a difference. Yarmouth also gets full in the season

Lymington - the river is narrow and feel minute when you are faced with one of the new megaferries coming out at you. The trick is to hang off the entrance and wait for one of the aforementioned vessels and follow it in - seemples. Watch out for its thrusters when it gets to the dock though - it can push you completely across the river.